“When it comes to art, my main motivation is to spark conversation in the viewers. By creating art that does not have a definitive message, you can ensure the viewer spends more time interpreting what it means to them.”

Jaedon Chase, grade eleven, is a committed photographer, having even travelled overseas for the art. When asked to comment about his inspiration, he stated, “Though my art does not visibly reflect this, two artists I am influenced by are Peter Lik and Banksy.” Jaedon was inspired by Banksy to add layers of representation and depth into his photos, while Peter Lik inspired him to become more proactive in the field of photography. On Banksy, Jaedon said, “His method of painting reminds me that the photo’s power to convey a message does not stop once the photo is taken.”

On his methodology, Jaedon says, “When taking photos I prefer shooting in digital, however, I did start on film. I take much more video than I do photos, which makes digital cameras clearly superior. However, I do recommend starting on film because it forces you to think about your composition and settings before you take the photo.”

As for display, however, he prefers the traditional print. “I much prefer a more traditional platform because a physical print forces the viewer to spend more time not only looking at the piece but thoroughly inspecting it. However, there are much fewer times where one can present their work in a traditional manner, so often a digital one is sufficient.”

Elaborating on his previous answers, Jaedon added, “My favourite medium/camera is an APS-C sensor made by Fuji-film. Though it is common for professional and semi-professional photographers to shoot on a full frame sensor, I prefer to use a crop sensor camera.” Ever the professional, he continues on, “I find that it is advantageous for wildlife and street photography. It allows you to get shots and angles that would be much harder to achieve on a full frame.”

One of Jaedon’s personal favourites, out of all his works, includes a cinematic travel film, which he called his ‘South East Asia video’. Ultimately, he was very satisfied with how it ended up, saying, “I was very happy with how I effectively used the music to set the pace of the film.”

Ultimately, Jaedon will not pursue a career in art. “However, I will continue to film videos and shoot photos”, he promises.